Lublin is one of my favorite places to visit in Poland (and not only because I’m biased since it’s the capital of the region I come from). It’s also one of the gems that don’t get as much attention as it should. But it should be on everyone’s radar – and you will see why in this article.

This is one of Central Europe’s most beautiful cities, with a long and interesting history, and the list of things to do in Lublin is pretty diverse, so that everyone will find something for themselves there. But more than that, the city always has this vibrant atmosphere that is so easy to enjoy, and spending time in Lublin is always a pleasure.

Since this is one of the easiest day trips from Warsaw, you should definitely put Lublin in your Poland itinerary. But better yet, spend a few days here to enjoy the city to the fullest and discover the surrounding region. I guarantee you will be satisfied with visiting Lublin.

I put together this Lublin guide to help you plan your trip to one of the greatest cities in Poland. I hope you will enjoy it!

Where is Lublin, Poland

With a bit over 330.000 inhabitants, Lublin is the 8th largest city in Poland, located in the eastern part of the country. Warsaw, the capital of Poland, is 170 km northwest of Lublin, and Krakow is less than 300 km southwest. The border with Ukraine is less than 100 km away from Lublin.

Why visit Lublin

I wrote the whole article about reasons to visit Lublin (that you can read here), but in short: it’s beautiful, interesting, and full of monuments and history (after all, for centuries Lublin has been one of the most important cities in Poland). The city is known for numerous cultural events you can enjoy, is full of quirks, and has a great culinary scene. There is a wide variety of Lublin attractions, so it’s impossible to be bored there.

How to get to Lublin

Since the city is not that far from Warsaw, you can easily get here by train or bus; there are frequent connections throughout the day. I personally prefer the train, it’s more comfortable, and the journey from Warsaw to Lublin takes less than 2 hours.

In Lublin, the train station is a bit away from the center (around 2 km, you can take the bus) while the bus station is just outside of the Old Town.

You can also fly directly to Lublin from a few places in Europe, such as London, Dublin, Split, Burgas, Bergamo, or Gdansk. The local airport is located only 15km away from the center of the city.

How to get around Lublin

Many of Lublin attractions are located in the city’s center, and you can easily walk between them. There are a few places in the outskirts – Majdanek Concentration Camp and the Open-Air Ethnographic Museums – but you can easily reach them by public transport. You can find schedules here.

You can also use Uber and Bolt in Lublin.

How many days for visiting Lublin

You can see all the Lublin highlights in one day, but I recommend staying at least two days in the city to enjoy all the things to do in Lublin, including visiting those places away from the center.

But the longer you stay, the better, as you can also use the city as a base to see the fantastic Lublin region with all its attractions (including a UNESCO-listed city and the national park).

Where to stay in Lublin

Since this is a large city, there are many accommodation options to choose from. Here are some of the recommended places to stay in Lublin:

• Trybunalska (9.2/10)
• Avatary Miasta (9.3/10)
• Hotel Alter (9.2/10)
• and many more!

Things to do in Lublin

And now, without further ado, here are the best things to do in Lublin.

Wander around the Old Town

The Old Town is hands down the most beautiful and charming part of the city, and that’s where you should start your Lublin sightseeing. Even if it is not very large, only around 1 square kilometer, this is one of the best-preserved historic urban complexes in Poland, where around 70% of buildings remain original (which is not often the case in Poland). Some of the oldest structures you can find in Lublin’s Old Town date back even to medieval times!

The heart of the Old Town is the Market Square, surrounded by some of the most beautiful townhouses in Lublin, many of them with detailed, rich decor on the facades.

Right in the middle, you will find the dominating Gothic structure of the Crown Tribunal from the 14th century. Starting in 1578, this place has served as the court of appeal, making Lublin one of the most important cities in Poland. Today this is a local wedding hall.

A short walk from the Market Square, you will stumble across another square – Plac po Farze – where you can see remnants of the old parish church from the 13th century.

The best way to get to know the area is to simply walk around, preferably without a map, to get lost in the maze of the cobbled, winding lanes, and to feel the atmosphere of the place. When wandering, you will surely stumble across numerous historic sites, picturesque corners, and beautiful houses.

Discovering all that the Old Town has to offer is one of my favorite things to do in Lublin. You can join the guided tour to get to know the Old Town better – click here for details and to book the spot.

Visit the castle

Lublin Castle is one of the symbols of the city. Originally from the 12th century, it got its current Neogothic look in the 19th century (however, you still can find the original 13th-century tower on the castle grounds). Even if, over the centuries, Lublin Castle played an important role in the region and its history, it is mainly known for the cruel prison that was established here in the 19th century and worked until 1954.

The impressive structure is located just outside of the Old Town, and that’s where you should head after the stroll around the area. Inside you can first see the museum – the branch of the national museum – with some of the most valuable paintings in Poland as well as exhibitions about the history of the region and local folk art.

But the real treat and one of the most incredible places to visit in Lublin – the Holy Trinity Chapel – is why you should come to the castle. This is a real gem of art and architecture, dating back to the early 15th century, with impressive Byzantine-Ruthenian frescoes. Despite the troublesome history of the Lublin Castle, the chapel remained intact, and today we can admire this masterpiece that can easily impress everyone.

The last place you should visit on the castle grounds is the 13th-century tower – from the top, you can admire a beautiful panorama of Lublin’s Old Town and beyond.

See Lublin from above

Speaking about the viewpoints, besides the castle tower, there are a few more places where you can go to admire the panorama of Lublin.

The best one is the Trinitarian Tower, attached to the Cathedral – you need to walk up a bit over 200 stairs, but the view from the top is worth it, with the Old Town right below you. Inside the tower, you can also visit the interesting Archdiocesan Museum.

Another good point, with a nice view of the Old Town and beyond and one of the most beautiful staircases in Lublin, is the Lublin History Museum, located inside the Krakow Tower (one of the two remaining towers of the medieval fortifications, a getaway to the Old Town).

A bit outside of the Old Town (but not too far from the castle), you can walk to Czwartek Hill, where you can find a nice vista of the historical part of the city.

Visit beautiful churches

Even if you are not religious, I recommend visiting some of the Lublin churches as the interiors often make the jaw drop with the rich decor.

My two favorite ones are the Cathedral and the Dominican Church, located just a few steps away. They look pretty standard from the outside, but once you step inside, it’s like another universe with all the art around. Be sure to admire it too!

Go underground

One of the Lublin attractions is the underground route below the Old Town. It starts in the Crown Tribunal and ends at Plac po Farze; along the way, you walk even 12 meters underground, passing numerous townhouse basements, some as old as the early 16th century. The total length of the underground route is around 280 meters; along the way, you can see the exhibition of Lublin’s history.

Enjoy the pedestrian zone

Krakowskie Przedmieście, especially between the Krakow Gate and Litewski Square, is the most representative street of Lublin, perfect for a stroll around and observing people. This is such a pleasant area of the city, one of the favorite places for locals to hang around.

The street is lined with cafes and restaurants, as well as shops and beautiful buildings, mainly from the 17th and 18th centuries. Be sure to wander around here, too, and enjoy the vibrant vibe of the street.

Stop at the Litewski Square

This concrete/green square in the heart of the city is not only a perfect place to sit down and relax for a second but it is also packed with some quirky Lublin attractions. The square was created in the 1820s as a designated area for events and state ceremonies that still occur today.

In the middle of the area, you can find the fountains that, in the summer months, give a multimedia show with lights and music. There are also a few monuments around, commemorating important people and events, such as the Union of Lublin from 1569 that created the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (hence the name of the square – Litewski means Lithuanian).

Speaking of Lithuania – across the street from the park, you can find a portal with a screen showing live footage from Vilnius. You can look into the streetlife there or say hi to those in the capital of Lithuania.

Find Jewish remnants

For centuries Lublin has been home to a large Jewish community that has been present there since medieval times. After the tragedy of World War 2, the Jewish population in the city dropped massively, and today it is only a few people who remained there.

Nevertheless, Lublin didn’t forget its Jewish past, and you still can find many remnants of the multicultural past when exploring the city.

There are two Jewish cemeteries, former buildings of public use, and numerous plaques commemorating the places connected to the Jewish community. Near the castle you will find a streetlamp with the light always on to commemorate the Jewish district that used to be located in this area. On the walls, you can find poems written by Jewish authors, a popular Polish song written in Yiddish, or old photographs of citizens of Lublin.

Visit Majdanek concentration camp

Everyone knows and decides to visit Auschwitz, but there were many more concentration camps in Poland during World War 2, and one of the larger ones was located in Lublin. Its official name was “KL Lublin,” but it was better known as “Majdanek” from the name of the city’s district it is located in. The camp was in use between 1941 and 1944, and in that time, almost 80.000 people lost their lives here (out of around 150.000 inmates).

Today you can visit the place (the entrance is free of charge) and explore the large area with about 70 historical buildings, including the administrative part, the barracks, the gas chamber, and the crematorium. For me, Majdanek is more powerful than Auschwitz – the complex is large, yet usually, there are not many visitors around, which makes the whole experience so much more overwhelming.

The concentration camp is a bit far from the center, but you can easily reach it by public transport or taxi. You can find the details about the opening hours etc. here.

Visit the open-air ethnographic museum

On the other side of the city, you will find one of the nicest places to visit in Lublin – the open-air ethnographic museum, showing an extensive collection of old buildings from the Lublin region. There are wooden houses, churches, and a mill; the manor house from the 18th century or the model of a provincial town from the 1930s.

The whole area is large, and you can easily spend half a day exploring it and seeing all the attractions. This is actually one of the best open-air ethnographic museums in Poland, showing a wide variety of buildings, and it’s definitely worth a slight detour from the center.

Across the street from the museum, you can also visit the botanical garden.

Relax at Saski Garden

At the end of Krakowskie Przedmieście Street, you will find Saski Garden, the oldest park in Lublin, dating back to 1837. At first, the park was only open to the elites, but after social pressure, it became available to everyone in the early 20th century.

This is such a lovely area, a perfect green oasis in the middle of the busy city. If you are looking for a place to relax during your Lublin sightseeing – this is it. There are numerous benches to sit on, lots of charming corners, and a wide selection of trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Go to the rooftop of CSK

Across the street from Saski Garden, you will find the modern building of CSK (Centrum Spotkania Kultur – the Center of Meeting Cultures). It is a relatively new addition to the city scenery, as the new building was finished only in late 2015.

Inside, you will find numerous cultural spaces for concerts, theater plays, workshops, exhibitions, etc. The real highlight of the place is a rooftop where you can wander around and observe the bees who live there. The building itself is an absolute masterpiece of modern architecture too.

Visit the local brewery

In 1846, in the place of the former church and abbey, the local brewery opened and for years provided delicious local beer – Perła – known for its strong hop taste. Today the brewery is a bustling area where you can try freshly brewed beer in the bar, attend events such as the open-air cinema or concerts, or enjoy the industrial space.

You can also visit the brewery, especially its undergrounds – during the tour, you will learn more about the place and history of beer and its production in Lublin. The Perła Brewery is only a short walk from the Old Town and can be an interesting addition to your Lublin itinerary.

Find some great murals

Lublin is one of the best street art cities in Poland, with numerous beautiful murals decorating walls all over the place. The city is known for its numerous cultural events, and often murals were created as part of a festival or to commemorate the city’s history and culture.

Fortunately, many of the Lublin street artworks are located in the center of the city, so you can easily find them when exploring the city. This is one of the best things to do in Lublin!

I compiled a small guide to Lublin street art, with the best works and a map of where to find them. You can read the article here.

Try cebularz

For me, cebularz is a regular pastry, as I’ve known it my whole life, but this is actually a regional delicacy that you should try when visiting Lublin. The round-shaped pastry with stewed onion and poppy seeds is simply delicious and a perfect breakfast or snack to grab during your sightseeing.

You can get it in every bakery in Lublin, and it costs only a few Polish złoty. There is also a museum dedicated to cebularz where you can learn how to make a tasty pastry.

Enjoy the culinary scene

Speaking of food, Lublin has a really decent culinary scene. You can find the best restaurants, cafes, and bars mainly in the Old Town but also along and near Krakowskie Przedmieście. There is a wide selection of Polish and international cuisine, so everyone should find something for their taste.

I can recommend Mandragora with Jewish cuisine, Sielsko Anielsko and Niepospolita (both with Polish food), and Armenia with food from the Caucasus – all located on the Market Square in the Old Town.

Go for day trips

Lublin can be a good base to explore the region, and there is plenty to see and do in this part of Poland. Some of the most popular places that are perfect for day trips from Lublin are:

• Zamość – a UNESCO-listed perfect Renaissance town
• Kazimierz Dolny – a charming bohemian town, with monuments from medieval times and numerous art galleries
• Nałęczów – a popular spa town
• Janowiec – with impressive ruins of the Renaissance castle
• Puławy – home to the first Polish museum, with a lovely park and a beautiful palace; this is also my hometown
• Kozłówka – with a beautiful 18th-century palace
• Roztocze National Park – with picturesque, idyllic landscape, perfect for hiking

Final thoughts on visiting Lublin

As you can see above, Lublin really is a gem, with a variety of attractions and numerous picturesque spots all over the city. If you want to escape crowds and have a great city break in Poland – Lublin is your answer.

There is no doubt you will fall for Lublin, just like everyone else (including me) does; this place is just so special and so easy to enjoy. So don’t think twice; plan your trip to Lublin soon!

Further reading

I published many articles about Poland that you might find useful when planning your trip there. Here are some of them:

• 37 Amazing Things to Do in Krakow, Poland
• 20 Great Places to Visit As Day Trips from Warsaw, Poland
• Visiting Auschwitz – How to Plan the Auschwitz Tour
• The Complete Guide to Visiting Slownski National Park, Poland
• Visit Grudziadz – One of the Hidden Gems of Poland
• 19 Amazing Things to Do in Gdansk, Poland
• Visit Sandomierz, Poland – One of the Prettiest Towns in the Country
• Visiting Malbork Castle, Poland – the Largest Castle in the World
• 25 Amazing Things to do in Wroclaw, Poland
• and many more!

If you are looking for articles about a specific destination – check out the map with all the articles I’ve published (and their locations). You can also join my Facebook group about traveling in Central Europe and ask your questions there.

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• Sign up to my newsletter or follow me on Bloglovin to get updates about the new posts
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• I’ve included a few handy links of services and products I personally like and use so you can plan your own trip to Poland too. They are often affiliate links. This means I will get a small commission if you book/purchase anything through my links, at no extra costs for you. Thank you!

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